Terminal block assembly for flat base or channel mounting



J. PIPERATO April 5, 1966 Filed Oct. 2. 1963 TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY FOR FLAT BASE OR CHANNEL MOUNTING INVENTOR.

JAMES PIPERATO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,245,029 TERMINAL BLGCK ASSEMBLY FQR FLAT BASE 0R CHANNEL MOUNTING James Piperato, Sterling, N.J., assiguor to Buchanan Electric Products Corporation, Hillside, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Get. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 313,368 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-198) This invention relates generally to terminal-block assemblies, and more particularly to improved terminalblock assemblies that are adapted to be mounted either directly on a flat base or on a channel member.

It has been proposed to provide a terminal-block assembly that comprises a plurality of mating sections with complementary configurations so that two or more of these sections may be nested together to form an assembly of desired size and terminal connections. In many prior-art terminal-block assemblies, contact sections can be added to only one side of an end sect-ion. Also, in some prior-art terminal-block assemblies, it is necessary to remove previously applied mounting screws When it is desired to add additional contact sections, one or more mounting screws running through each of the contact sections. No prior-art terminal-block assemblies are known'that have been made for both flat-base mounting and for .channel mounting, a terminal-block assembly designed for one type of mounting being unsuitable for another type of mounting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved terminal-block assembly that overcomes the aforementioned limitations of some of the prior-art terminal-block assemblies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal-block assembly that can be either flat-base mounted or channel-mounted, as desired.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal-block assembly wherein contact sections can be added to either end of an end section.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal-block assembly wherein previously applied mounting screws need not be removed in order to add additional contact sections to the assembly.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal-block assembly of the type described that is relatively simple in structure, easy to manufacture, and highly efiicient in use.

Briefly, these and further objects of the present invention are attained in an improved terminal-block assembly comprising an end section and at least one contact section that has complementary configurations with respect to the end section, whereby it forms a mating part with the end section. The end section comprises a base and ,a wall extending perpendicularly from the base and dividing the base into two portions. One of the base portions is formed with a groove to receive a mounting screw therein. The other base portion is adapted to nest within a cutout portion in a base of the contact section. A wall extends perpendicularly from the base of the contact section. One side of the wall of the contact section has configurations complementary to that of one side of the end section. The other side of the wall of the contact sect-ion is substantially similar to a side of the wall of the end section, opposite sides of the wall of the end section being symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane between them. Both the wall of the end section and a portion of the base of the contact section are formed with two parallel grooves adapted to engage two parallel beads, respectively, on the distal ends of a U-shaped channel member. The U-shaped channel member is formed with a pair of inwardly extending flanges for supporting the bases of both the end and contact sections.

The novel features of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, will be understood in greater detail from the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters represent similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved terminalblock assembly secured to a channel member in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of a contact section of the improved terminal-block assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal-block assembly taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an improved terminal-block assembly 10, comprising an end section 12 and a mating contact section 14, mounted on a U-shaped channel member 16 in accordance with the present invention. The end section 12 is or" electrical insulating material and comprises a base 18 that is divided into two portions 20 and 22 by a wall 24 that extends perpendicularly from the base 118. The wall 24 is disposed substantially midway between the ends 26 and 28 of the base 18. The wall 24 has opposite sides 39 and 32 of symmetrical configuration with respect to an imaginary plane therebetween. Thus, a contact section having a side with a configuration complementary to either one of the walls 3t) and 32 can be p'lamd against either one of the walls 3% and 32, that is, on either side of the end section 12.

The base portion 20 of base 18 is formed with a recessed or counter-sunk groove 34 for receiving the head 36 and a portion of the shank of a screw 38 therein. The screw 38 could be threaded directly into a base member (not shown) if the terminal-block assembly 10 were to be mounted directly thereon. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the terminal-block assembly 1%} is mounted on a channel member 16. Accordingly, the screw 38 is threaded into a channel clamp 4t? in a manner to be described hereinafter in greater detail.

The contact section 14 is also of electrical insulating material and is adapted to nest with the end section 12. Accordingly, the contact section 14 comprises a base 42 and a wall 44 extending substantially perpendicularly from the base 42 and dividing the base 42 into two portions 46 and 48. The base portion 46 is wider and higher than the base portion 48 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. One side 5% of the wall 44 has a configuration similar to either of the sides 39 or 32 of the wall 24 so that another contact section (similar to the contact section 14) may be nested against it, if so desired. The end 52 of the base portion 46 and portions of the other side 53 of the wall 44 have configurations complementary to the side 32 of the wall 24. The base portion 46 is formed with a cut-out portion 54 that is adapted to receive the base portion 22 of the end section 24 snugly therein when the end section and the contact section 12 and 14 are pressed together, as shown in FIG. 3. The base portion 48 of the contact section 14 is also formed with a recessed or countersunk groove 56 for receiving a second screw 38 therein for fastening the contact section 14 to a base (not shown) or to the channel member 16 by means of a second clamp 40 (in the same manner as the end section 12 is fastened thereto).

Means are provided to receive and to secure electrical conductors in each contact section 14. To this end, a tubular contact member 53 of electrical conducting material is disposed between the base portion 4 6 and portions extending from the side 53 of the wall 44. The tubular member 5 8 is formed with a cutout section midway between its ends for receiving portions of the wall 44 therein for anchoring purposes, as shown in FIG. 3. A pair of '3 V 0.? screws 69 and 62 are threaded into the tubular member 58 adjacent to the ends thereof, respectively, for fastening electrical conductors that may be inserted into the tubular member 58, in a manner well known in the art.

The bottom surface 64 of the base 1 and the bottom surface 68 of the base 42 define a plane surface so that the terminal block assembly may be mounted on a flat surface, if so desired. Means are also provided to mount the terminal block assembly 16 on the channel member 16, when so desired, the U-shaped channel member 16 may be made from any material, rigid or flexible, and comprises a floor 7%) and a pair of parallel Walls 72 and 7'4 extending upwardly from the floor 70 on opposite sides thereof. The distal ends of the walls72 and 74 terminate in a pair of parallel beads 76 and 7%, respectively. A pair of flanges 8G and 82 extend inwardly from the walls 72 and '74 for supporting the bases 18 and 412 of the sections 12 and 14 thereon. The base 18 is formed in its bottom surface 64 with a pair of arcuate grooves 84 and 86 adjacent to opposite sides of the base 18, and the grooves 84 and 86 are adapted to engage the beads '76 and 71%, respectively, therein as shown in FIG. 1. The bottom surface 68 of the base 4-2 is also formed with a pair of arcuate grooves 88 and 90 that are similar to and aligned with the grooves 34 and 86, respectively, in the base 18 and also engage the beads 76 and '73, respectively, therein.

The clamps are substantially rectangular in shape and are adapted to fit slidably but not rotatably between the walls 72 and 74. Since the channel clamps 40 are disposed beneath the flanges 8t) and 82 of the channel member 16, and since the bases 1-8 and 42 of the end and contact sections 12 and 14, respectively, are disposed above the fiangesSt) and 82, the end and contact sections 112 and 14 can be clamped to the channel member 16 by means of the screws 36 and clamps 40. The floor 70 of the channel member 16 is formed with a plurality of openings 92 for securing the channel member 16 to a desired object.

.The wall 24 of the end section 12 has a pair of pivot pins 94 and 96 extending perpendicularly from opposite sides thereof and in linear alignment with each other and 'with a pair of pivot pins 98 and 1% extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the Wall 44. Another pair of pivot pins 10-2 and 104, extending from opposite sides of the wall 24, are in linear alignment with each other and with a pair of pivot pins 1% and W8, extending'from opposite sides of the wall 44. The pivot pins comprise pivots for supporting cover means (not shown) for the tubular member 58. A portion 110 of the wall 4 4 is recessed, as shown in FIG. 1, for receiving indicia (not shown) therein for identifying conductors that may be secured by the tubular contact member 58.

Thus, there has been described an improved terminalblock assembly that may be secured either to a flat base or to a channel member, as desired. While only one contact section has been illustrated and described in association with an end section, it will be understood that a plurality of similar contact sections may be nested together on either one or on both sides of a single end section. Also, while certain descriptive terms such as upper, lower, top and bottom, for example, have been used for the sake of clarity of description, it will be understood that these terms are merely relative and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. Since various modifications may be made in the present invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A terminalnblock assembly having first and second separable interlocking sections of insulating material each having first and second ends and a fiat bottom surface,

(a) each of said sections having means to mount said terminal-block assembly on either a flat portion or a U-shaped channel member having a pair of inwardly extendingparallel flanges and a pair of parallel beads adjacent to the distal ends of the walls of said U-shaped member;

(b) said means comprising a pair of spaced arcuate grooves opening into said bottom sunface for receiving said pair of parallel beads;

(c) said means also com-prising a cut-out portion in the'second end of said'second section, thefirst end of each section having a mounting member extending away from the second end and being of the same transverse width to interlock with the cut-out portion ofan adjacent section;

(d) said mounting member having an opening therein for receiving the head and aportion of the shank of a mounting screw for securing said assembly to a fiat surface or for engaging a clamp disposed beneath said flanges to secure said terminal-block assembly to the channel member.

2. In combination, a terminal-block assembly suitable for mounting on a flat base or on a U-shaped channel member, said channel member having a pair of parallel inwardly extending flanges and a pair of heads at the distal ends of the walls of the U-shaped member, said terminal-block assembly comprising an end section having a first base with a flat bottom surface, a contact section having a second base with a fiat bottom surface, said end section having a first wall extending perpendicularly from said first base and dividing said first base into two portions, said contact section having a second wall extending perpendicularly from said second base and dividing said second base into two portions, one of said portions of said first base and one of said portions of said second base being formed with recessed grooves for receiving the heads and portions of the shanks of screws therein for fastening purposes, the other portion of said first base having a bottom surface formed with a pair of spaced-apart grooves for receiving said pair of beads, respectively, therein, the other portion of said second base having a cut-out portion for receiving the other portion of said first base therein, said bottom surface of said other portion of said second base being formed with a pair of grooves for receiving said pair of beads, respectively, therein, and a .pair of clamps each formed with a threaded opening for receiving one of said screws therein, said clamps being disposed beneath said flanges'and said first and second bases being disposed above said flanges, whereby said screws may fasten said terminal-block assembly to said channel member.

3. In a terminal-block assembly of the type wherein an end section and a contact section are nested together, and wherein said end section comprises a first base and a first wall extending perpendicularly from said first base and dividing said first base into two portions, and said contact section comprising a'second base and a second wall extending perpendicularly therefrom and dividing said second base into two portions, the improvement comprising means to mount said terminal-block assembly on either a flat base or on a U-shaped channel member having a pair of inwardly extending parallel flanges and a pair of parallel beads adjacent to the distal ends of the Walls of said U-shaped channel member, one portion of .said first base having a bottom surface formed with a pair of spaced-apart arcuate grooves therein for receiving said pair of parallel beads, respectively, and one of said portions of said second base also being formed with a pair of parallel grooves for receiving said pair of parallel beads, respectively, therein, the other portion of said first base being formed with a recessed groove for receiving the head and a portion of the shank of a screw therein, the other of said portions of said second base also being formed with a recessed groove for receiving the head and a portion of the shank of a screw therein, and a separate channel clamp disposed beneath said flanges for each of said screws, each of said channel clamps being formed with a threaded opening for receiving a separate one of said screws therein, whereby said terminal-block assembly may be fastened to said channel member.

4. In a terminal-block assembly of the type wherein an end section and a contact section are nested together, and wherein said end section comprises a first base and a first wall extending perpendicularly from said first base and dividing said first base into two portions, and said contact section comprising a second base and a second wall extending perpendicularly therefrom and dividing said second base into two portions, the improvement comprising means to mount said terminal-block assembly on either a flat base or on a U-shaped channel member having a pair of inwardly extending parallel flanges and a pair of parallel beads adjacent to the distal ends of the walls of said U-shaped channel member, said first base having a bottom surface formed with a pair of s aced-apart arcuate grooves for receiving said pair of parallel beads, respectively, therein, and one of said portions of said second base also being formed with a pair of parallel grooves therein for receiving said pair of parallel beads, respectively, therein, the other portion of said first base being formed with a recessed groove therein for receiving the head and a portion of the shank of a screw therein, the other of said portions of said second base also being formed with a recessed groove for receiving the head and References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,442 9/ 1963 Blanchet 339l98 2,981,922 4/1961 Van Valkenburg et al. 339l98 2,981,923 4/1961 Ustin 339l98 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,331,564 5/1963 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Buchanan: Electrical Design News, June 1958, pages 20 and 21.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED S. TRASK, Examiner. 

1. A TERMINAL-BLOCK ASSEMBLY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SEPARABLE INTERLOCKING SECTIONS OF INSULATING MATERIAL EACH HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS AND A FLAT BOTTOM SURFACE, (A) EACH OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING MEANS TO MOUNT SAID TERMINAL-BLOCK ASSEMBLY ON EITHER A FLAT PORTION OR A U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMEBR HAVING A PAIR OF INWARDLY EXTENDING PARALLEL FLANGES AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL BEADS ADJACENT TO THE DISTAL ENDS OF THE WALLS OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER; (B) SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED ARCUATE GROOVES OPENING INTO SAID BOTTOM SURFACE FOR RECEIVING SAID PAIR OF PARALLEL BEADS; (C) SAID MEANS ALSO COMPRISING A CUT-OUT PORTION IN THE SECOND END OF SAID SECOND SECTION, THE FIRST END OF EACH SECTION HAVING A MOUNTING MEMBER EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE SECOND END AND BEING OF THE SAME TRANSVERSE WIDTH TO INTERLOCK WITH THE CUT-OUT PORTION OF AN ADJACENT SECTION; (D) SAID MOUNTING MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE HEAD AND A PORTION OF THE SHANK OF A MOUNTING SCREW FOR SECURING SAID ASSEMBLY TO A FLAT SURFACE OR FOR ENGAGING A CLAMP DISPOSED BENEATH SAID FLANGES TO SECURE SAID TERMINAL-BLOCK ASSEMBLY TO THE CHANNEL MEMBER. 